by P. Jameson
He cleared his throat at the memory.
He wanted their first kiss to be special. Not an obligation she owed him for acquiring information.
“I have a counteroffer.”
She frowned. “I’m listening.”
He squeezed his eyes closed, praying he wasn’t rushing this. Oh, hell. He was definitely rushing this, but that was his way. Fly by the seat of his pants, down and dirty, no beating around the bush. It was all he knew.
When this was all said and done, Tana would either accept him or she wouldn’t. And if she didn’t, he’d keep trying. Keep proving himself. Keep showing her love.
He found her eyes, holding on to them like they could somehow keep him from falling harder.
“How about I tell you everything and if you agree…” Shit, shit, shit. Here goes fucking nothing. “You mate me.”
Her claws came out slightly, pressing into his chest before she could stop them. It gave her away. Told him that whether Tana liked the idea or not, her panther was on board. It gave him hope.
“Okay,” she whispered, looking unsure. “Tell me.”
“I told the guys I can’t let Grace go back to her clan. I can’t let her be raised in a way that could put her in more danger later. I just can’t. It’s been almost two weeks and her clanmate is almost healed. She’ll wake soon, and maybe she’ll want to go home, but Tana, I think they were running from something.”
Her honey eyes turned sad. “I do too. We can’t make them go back. If Drake won’t take them in, I’ll talk to Magic and they can go back with me.”
Her words punched him in the gut. “No, baby. I told them something else.”
“What?”
“That I can’t let you go either. I can’t, Tana. I’ve watched you these last two weeks, taking care of a baby that wasn’t yours—”
“She is mine,” Tana snapped, and then her eyes grew wide and tear-soaked. “Shit, I’m sorry. I’ve… Surge, I think my cat has bonded with her. What the hell am I going to do?”
He brushed a thumb across her cheek. “I know you have. Just like I have. And it’s okay. Stay here. With me. We’ll raise her as our own. I know this isn’t the usual way families begin, but I for one am especially unusual so...”
“You mean, we could adopt her?” Her expression was as hopeful as he felt inside. She needed Grace as much as he did.
Damn it, please let this happen.
Surge nodded.
“But what if the female is family? What if she claims her? Or takes her from us?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. We won’t have answers until she wakes.”
“I don’t want to lose her.”
“Me neither. And we’d fight for her, Tana. But if worst came to worst, we’d still have each other. We could try for others. We could—”
He stopped when she started shaking her head. “I can’t.”
Surge went cold. “Can’t?”
She shook her head, looking miserable.
“But… why? Do you need more time? Maybe I’m coming on too strong. I told you, I’m patient. I’ll wait for you—”
“No. Stop.” Her tone was pure agony as her hand slid down to her belly, covering her claw marks. “I can’t. The attack shredded my uterus. It’s too scarred up to allow a pregnancy.”
And the hits kept coming. Goddamn it.
“You can’t have young?” he whispered, feeling despair for her. For them. Because he was in her future. He refused to believe otherwise.
She blinked a volley of tears away and stared at some spot over his shoulder pretending to be strong.
In one move, he pulled her off the ground, wrapping her in his arms so he could hold her tight while she let it all go. “S’all right. It’s going to be okay. I’ve got you.”
Pressing her face to his neck, she sobbed quietly.
“We’re in this together, baby girl.” His lips brushed the shell of her ear as he breathed the truth into her. “Me and you, until the sun goes down on the Surge show. Nothing could take me away from you.”
She shook her head, her hair brushing his cheek. “But that’s what I’m saying. If… if we do this, me and you… we might never have a family. I’ve seen you with Grace. You were meant to be a father.”
“Yes. And you were meant to be a mother. You’re a natural, the way you’ve tended to our little one. We’ll either find a way, or we’ll learn to be satisfied being a family of two.”
She pulled back to look at him. Even with tear streaked cheeks and a Rudolph nose, she was so damn beautiful. “Surge…” Her voice was full of despair.
“Tana…”
“Why do you want me? I’m broken.”
“Because, baby. There’s nothing more beautiful than two fucked up people fitting their broken pieces together to make something whole. Can’t you see it? The way our broken pieces match?”
“I do see it,” she whispered, curving her palm around his cheek.
“Mate me, Tana. Complete me. Be mine.” His heart was on the ledge. If she said yes, it’d leap into the abyss and never come back. He’d be hers for the long haul and love every fucking minute of it.
Her watery gaze transformed into a tiny smile. “I want this. I want everything. With you, Surge.”
Relieved, he pressed his forehead to hers. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
Surge inhaled deep, pushing back his own tears. With her uttered word, his wolf felt stronger, like he had a purpose. To protect and provide. To make her and their little girl happy.
There was only one thing left to do.
“I’m going to kiss you now,” he rasped. “And I’m not going to stop until you’re claimed. Until you carry my mark on your body. Until my scent is so mixed up with yours, people know we belong to each other. Understand?”
“Oh god,” she moaned. “This is happening.”
“Fuck yes, this is happening, Tana. Are you ready?”
She caressed his cheek, staring into his eyes, loving him with her gaze. “Take me now.”
A growl rumbled in his chest, and he couldn’t hold back anymore. He dove for her mouth, her lush lips meeting his in a clash of fury. For a first kiss, it wasn’t gentle. He didn’t softly explore her. He devoured her. And she came at him with equal force, betraying her desperation and all she’d been holding back for the past few weeks.
He broke their kiss long enough to pull her to a stand, and then found her lips again, prying them open to taste the seductive heat of her mouth. Her tongue was soft but desperate, needing him like he needed her.
Sliding his hands past her ribs, down to the dip of her waist, he lifted her to wrap her legs around his body. His knees went weak when her center brushed against the tip of his hardened cock.
He wouldn’t take her on the ground, though the wolf in him found the idea to be hot as fuck. Gritty and real, totally turned him on. But they’d have other opportunities to get dirty. So many opportunities. A lifetime full.
He knew of the perfect place for this first time.
Kissing her jaw as he walked, he found the nearby creek blindly. He set Tana on a smooth boulder a few feet back from the bank that dropped off to the water. In the fading light, he took note of every one of her curves. The slope of her shoulders. The muscles of her biceps. Her full breasts. The way her hips flared wide from her much narrower waist.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, his voice hoarse with lust and emotion.
Her gaze fell to his erection, her eyes combing over him and widening. “You’re…”
Surge chuckled, gripping his cock and stroking slowly while his mate perused his body.
When her hot gaze met his, she breathed words that had him gritting his teeth against an orgasm. “I want it in my mouth.”
Fuuuuuck.
Surge cleared his throat. “Hot damn, I want that too. But if those pouty little lips get anywhere near this cock, it’ll be game over. It’s been too long. I need to mark you first. I need to m
ake you mine first or I’ll go crazy. You dig?”
Tana smiled. “You’re already crazy. My crazy wild wolf.”
He palmed one breast, squeezing gently and thumbing her nipple, watching intently as her body reacted to his touch with tiny chill bumps. “I’ll go crazier. Bomb-ass crazy. So crazy the only cure will be your sweet, sweet—”
She reached out and wrapped her hand around his length, stopping his words from forming with one smooth stroke.
“My god,” she grated. “I need this.”
“I know, kitty cat. I know. Now lie back and open your legs so I can see you.”
She obeyed, spreading her knees to give him a glimpse of her wetness.
“Wider.”
He slipped a finger between her folds, causing her to squirm and moan. Bending his head to her heaving breasts, he traced a circle around one tight nipple using his tongue while his fingers worked her clit. After teasing her to the point of gasping, Surge pulled the tight bud between his lips and sucked hard.
Tana’s eyes peeled wide and her gasp echoed against the water of the creek. Her hands flew to his head to keep him there, but he had no intention of going anywhere. He wanted her hovering on the razor edge of bliss so when the moment came for them to join, she’d feel nothing but pleasure.
When he pushed a finger inside and she began to quiver, Surge knew it was time.
“You’re ready for me, mate,” he choked out.
He pulled back, sweeping his palm down the valley between her breasts until he reached the claw marks that changed her future. Softly, he brushed his fingers over them, pushing all his love at her through their bond. And she felt it even though the claiming wasn’t complete. He knew because he could feel her love returning to him.
“Rewriting history, Tana. That’s what this is. Reminding the bastard past we aren’t his to fuck around. Marking out the black spots on our timeline to make room for the future. The beautiful goddamn future, no matter what it holds. You up for that, baby?” He positioned the tip of his erection at her entrance, his thumb on her clit, keeping her on the edge.
“Nothing sounds better,” she whispered, a single tear escaping the corner of her eye.
With his hand gentle on her belly, he slowly, achingly slid into her. The fit was tight. Too tight, and he had to pant through it.
Tana whimpered, her core tightening around him. Her body wasn’t going to wait for him. And hell if he really wanted it to.
As her release came, her eyes changed, telling him how near her animal was, and there was no more holding back.
“Hands above your head. Hold onto the rock. Hang on tight.” Wolf smiled his crazy grin. “This is going to be a rough ride.”
Chapter Ten
This was unbelievable. Total fairytale, too good to be true, pinch yourself because you must be dreaming kind of stuff.
This man, this amazing man, who was funny and caring and sexy as fucking sin, wanted her. Wanted her for life. Forever. Until the sun went down on the Surge show. And he knew her faults. Knew her flaws and that they ran soul deep, but it didn’t matter. He wanted her still.
For the first time in her life, she let herself believe that she could be happy. That she could be loved. Seeing Renner and Bethy had given her hope, even if she’d never admitted it. But Surge… he was making hope reality.
Tana spiraled out of control as he began thrusting into her. She hadn’t known their bond would be so powerful. Not when she was a cat and he was a wolf. Not when they weren’t intended mates.
But it was strong. It solidified everything Surge had said. And it would never be broken. Her mate would keep her heart safe. Never betray her.
There was not a more liberating feeling in the world.
She watched him, her mouth open on a silent gasp. Strong shoulders glistening from the heavy humidity. Powerful hands that held her hips steady so he could pound into her. His abs flexed with each push, a rippled cut of pure muscle that narrowed to his waist.
“That’s right,” he breathed. “Watch me. Watch what I’m doing to you, mate of mine.”
She was riveted, seeing his hard length disappear and reappear like magic over and over again.
“Surge,” she whimpered.
She’d followed his instructions and held on tight, but he’d banged her halfway off the rock, and was now bracing one foot against it for leverage. And he wasn’t stopping. He was all laser beam focus and white hot determination.
Her panther fucking loved it. Rawr, baby.
Without warning, he pulled her up and kissed her lips, his tongue delving inside and laying claim to her mouth. His thrusting slowed to hard measured pumps, and he sucked her lips as he pulled back.
“Mine,” he growled.
“Yes.”
“Always mine.”
“Always.” Her claws dug into his shoulder as another binding release rocked her body.
Surge dropped his head to her neck and a thrill of excitement travelled the length of her spine. This was it. The marking. The one that would rewrite the past and give her a future.
His hot tongue licked a slow path along the curve between her neck and shoulder.
And then he bit.
Tana jerked to a still, paralyzed by the mark of her mate and his warm fluid filling her, imparting her with his scent. Inside, she could feel herself changing, aligning with him. Her soul and his, becoming one.
Her panther hissed, claws peeking out enough to slash three small marks across Surge’s shoulder.
“Fuck yes,” he boomed, releasing her neck and continuing to push into her until she’d taken everything.
Eventually he slowed, coming to a stop, but Tana clung to him, unwilling to part for even a breath.
He panted against the raw bite before licking it softly. “It’s perfect,” he murmured.
Surge tried to pull back but still, Tana couldn’t make herself let go.
“Baby girl? You okay? Did I hurt you?”
Tana shook her head. “Just want to stay like this.”
He chuckled, bringing his hand up to cradle her head. As she burrowed against him, the laughter kept coming. It was free and genuine. Happy. She knew if she looked right now, his eyes would be smiling.
Turning her face, she stared at Surge seeing her guess was right. His laugh was real this time, his eyes sparkling with unshed tears.
Tana kissed his jaw, letting her lips linger.
Surge quieted, running his hand up and down her back in a lazy motion. “Thank you,” he whispered. “For giving us a chance. Told you we’d be beautiful.”
“You were right.”
He tipped her face up and kissed her lips so softly she ached from it. “I love these lips. I never want to stop kissing them but…”
“We should check on Grace.”
Surge nodded. “Our girl isn’t using a single thing those assholes made until I check it first. Can you believe they weren’t even reading the instructions?”
Tana gasped in true Hollywood style. “The nerve!”
Surge grinned, pinching her butt in retaliation. “Let’s go,” he urged, pulling her carefully to a stand. “Mate of mine.”
“You sure do have a lot of nicknames for me.”
“Yep. And I’ll probably come up with a million more before our time is over.”
“You need one. How about… Long Dong Silver.”
Surge didn’t miss a beat. “Nah. I’m not a pirate. Don’t even own a fishing boat.”
“Jackhammer?”
He squinted, thinking about it. “If I was in construction maybe. Though it could work by association. And I bet you’d be all about the Jackhammer, baby. Am I right?” he said, to a few sexy pelvic thrusts.
Tana laughed, the sound filling the forest as they found their way back to DTD’s property.
“Fine. How about I just call you… my love.”
Surge quit walking and pulled her to a stop. He stared into her eyes, his expression bleeding emotion. “That’s my favorite,�
� he whispered.
“It suits you best,” she said, stepping into his strong embrace.
He’d never said the words, but she knew he loved her by his actions. And it was unconditional. His love hadn’t changed when he’d learned she had less to offer him. For that alone, she’d be his for eternity
***
Late night feedings weren’t what most people would call the fun part of parenting, but Tana didn’t mind them. When the house was dark and silent, and it was just her and Grace, face to face in the rocking chair, that was the definition of peaceful.
She snuggled the baby against her chest while they waited for the milk to warm. Grace cooed impatiently, but there was no screaming. She’d learned Tana would feed her, she just had to wait.
Normally, she took her back to Surge’s room where they’d set up the bassinet and rocking chair until she was old enough to sleep in the crib, but tonight they were trying a little something different.
Creeping down the hall with baby Grace cradled in one arm and the bottle in the other, Tana hoped this worked. Opening the door to the spare room, she slipped inside and was shocked to find Diz. He was asleep in a chair he’d pulled close to the bed, but his head snapped up when Grace let out a whimper.
“Sorry,” Tana whispered. “I didn’t know you were in here.”
He wiped the sleep from his eyes and sat up straighter. “S’okay. What do you need?”
Tana’s gaze went to the bed, to the woman lying there unconscious. Another two weeks had passed. The female had been weaned off the sedatives, but she didn’t wake. There was a glimpse of hope when she’d shifted from her bobcat to human. Ella was sure she’d regain consciousness after that. But then nothing happened.
“I thought it might help if I brought Grace in to visit. Well, not visit exactly. I don’t know, I thought maybe it would give the female a reason to wake up.”
“Ella says she probably can’t hear us.”
“Yeah. I know, but her animal, I bet it can sense the young.”
Diz’s brow furrowed. “You might be right. I guess it’s worth a shot.” He stood. “Here, take a seat. I need a coffee break anyway.”
He half stumbled from the room and Tana settled in the chair to begin feeding Grace.
